The man who died in a small-airplane crash in the western metro over the weekend was the co-owner of a Twin Cities gardening retailer.
Scott Wagner, 60, was flying his single-engine Beech 36 plane late Saturday morning when it went down near the Crow River in the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve and burst into flames, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's office. His identity was confirmed by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
Wagner Greenhouses and Garden Center announced his death in a Facebook post.
"It is with deep sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Scott Wagner, co-owner and operator of Wagners Greenhouses on Saturday, February 22," the company wrote. "We extend our deepest condolences at this time to Scott's wife Susan and his two children Nolin and Eric. We ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers."
The Bloomington man's plane was in the air for just 11 minutes as it flew from Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie to the general aviation airport in Crystal before crashing west of Rogers, according to the online flight plan.
Authorities haven't said what led to the crash, which is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Paul Walsh
